PHILLY SPORTS CORNER

A weekend of Philly sports...

EAGLES-

* The Birds practice with the Miami Dolphins this week before playing Miami on Thursday night at the Linc.

Big week for the team, as roster spots shake out. Rumors that RB LaGarrette Blount will be cut before the season starts. Why sign the guy to be your short-yardage back, if you don't use him properly? Blount isn't meant to run sweep plays, as was the very first play last Thursday against the Bills. He's not an everyday guy wither. I thought Wendell Smallwood was going to be the 15-20 carry a game runner anyway, with Blount in special situations?

Smallwood has been hurt during camp. Backs Clement, Sproles and Pumphrey have taken up the slack.

The Eagles may regret not trading up a few selections in the 2nd round of the drat last spring and taking RB Delvin Cook. He looks to be an every-down guy, with power and speed.

Would CB Sidney Jones still be there in the 3rd round to select if the Birds would have taken Cook? How many other teams wanted to risk a high pick on an injured  Jones? Taking Darrick Barnett then Cook would have been a terrific draft for Philly, filling two needs immediately. Now, the running backs situation looks cloudy. The Eagles may have to use a high pick next spring for a running back. They have their first rounder, but then don't pick again until round 4.

* It will be reassuring to see back-up quarterback Nick Foles play on Thursday night. He has not played at all due to a sore right shoulder.

* I don't worry about WR Alshon Jeffery "being behind" the other receivers. It's pre-season. I'll get concerned if he isn't ready to roll on opening day vs. Washington.

* The value for LB Mychal Kendricks may never get higher, but I would think wice before I trade him away. The linebacker corps is already lacking in depth. The Eagles would save $ 4 million in cap space. Getting a runner back, another corner or maybe a draft pick in return isn't a bad idea, I just wouldn't give Kendricks away.

* With Buffalo tanking the season, would they consider trading LeSean McCoy back to the Eagles?

The Birds need a running back. Shady is still only 29. Yes, running backs usually hit a wall around the age of 30. But why not bring McCoy back for a few seasons? it would give the Eagles a chance to groom a young rusher. The Bills seem to be collecting draft picks. The Birds just got a 5th-rounder today for Matt Tobin. Deal the 5th-rounder to Buffalo for Shady?

* The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards the New York Giants winning the NFC East. I'm not a Giants fan. I just think they have the most solid team right now.

Dallas has too many issues. Plus no team has won the division in back-to-back years since 2004.

Washington has questions too, with the Kirk Cousins situation looming over the Redskins.

The Eagles? Still too many "what ifs?" and questions at running back and the secondary. I think the Birds will be better and I'm sticking with my 10-6 prediction.

The Philadelphia home opener will be a huge game  early in the season. It's against rival New York, plus with a December contest on the road with the Giants, coming off a West Coast trip  consisting of games with the Seahawks and Rams, that will be tough for the Eagles, the September match-up is key. Of course, the Eagles usually play the G-men tough at the Linc. The crowd will be fired-up. And after two road games to start the season, the Birds should be prepared to win at home vs. New York.

Still, at least right now, I have this little voice inside saying that the Giants are team to beat in the NFC East.

* Defensive end Vinny Curry needs to step it up. After getting a long-term contract, Curry has disappeared. Curry needs to become a pass rushing force again, with rookie Derrick Barnett breathing down his neck. Otherwise, Curry may forever be known as a guy with great potential who took the money and ran.

* Tight end Zach Ertz needs to finally have a break-out season or else he will be always labeled a big miss. Trey Burton is already pushing Ertz, so Ertz needs to pick it up and finally live up to the potential  he came out of Stanford with. Was he over-evaluated to begin with? Time will tell, but in this offense, with a maturing Carson Wentz, there's no reason why Ertz shouldn't take that next step to the Pro Bowl.

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PHILIIES-

* The Phils return home for a rare twi-night doubleheader tomorrow vs the Miami Marlins ( it's Philadelphia vs. Miami week).The team split their 4-game series with San Francisco over the weekend. The two victories are the first  and only two wins the club has had in California all season, losing 3 in Los Angeles, 3 in San Diego and 3 in Anaheim.

* Isn't it funny how the team started playing better once the struggling Tommy Joseph was benched and the kids from Lehigh Valley were given a chance to play? Hoskins ( who had 5 home runs on the West Coast trip), Williams and Alfaro are all playing well. Makes you wonder how the season may have been different if only the kids were given a chance to play soon.

OK, maybe not that much different, as the pitching sucks. Aaron Nola has been the only consistent starter. I'm beginning to think that Jared Eichoff is over-rated. Guys like Pivetta, Eflin, Thompson and Lively are all the same. Valasquez is still on the disabled list.

At least the kids are giving the team a burst of energy, and giving the fans some hope and a taste of what's to come.

Scott Kingery has an 18-game hitting streak at Lehigh Valley. J.P. Crawford is hitting better and played at third base Sunday for the Iron Pigs. Benching the under-achieving Mychel Franco in September, in favor of Crawford, is a possibility.

I don't like the erratic  behavior by the manager and front office, of having so many guys playing out of position. Alfaro at first base and Hoskins in left field are prime examples. I get it, trying to keep these guys in the line-up for their bats. I just think it wakens the defense when struggling players like Joseph, Franco and Rupp should be bench-warmers at this point of the 2018 campaign.

Moving guys to new positions snacks of the organization not having a plan.I understand having flexibility, but moving Hoskins to the outfield 3 days before he is called up to Philly?

I posted it before but here is my Opening Day line-up for next year:

1B- Hoskins
2B- Kingery
SS- Galvis
3B- Franco
LF- Williams
CF- Altherr
RF- Cozens
C- Alfaro

Trade Herrera while you can for pitching. Knapp is your back-up catcher. Franco gets  one last chance. He is still only 24. Deal him at the July deadline next summer if he continues to fail. Keep Galvis for his glove and his leadership. Give Cozens a chance in the outfield. Trade Hernandez for pitching.

It's a line-up full of power, speed and youth. Exciting, entertaining, energetic and maybe a surprise for long-suffering Phillies fans. Hey, what do you have to lose?

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Finally, the next eclipse will occur in 2024. What will happen first- the next eclipse or the next Philadelphia sports championship?